Ketamine Infusion Treatment for Chronic Pain

Since our inception, the mission of Mind Peace Clinics has always been to do our utmost to release our patients from the symptoms of depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain syndromes. Our approach to treatment is revolutionary, in that we utilize the most cutting-edge applications of low dose Ketamine infusions in order for our patients to achieve adequate relief of severe pain for those who have had little relief from more traditional opiate based pain management protocols.

Ketamine: A Short History

Ketamine has long been an incredibly useful drug for patients dealing with immediate and life-threatening situations. Originally receiving FDA approval in 1970, Ketamine quickly became an important and life saving drug on the battlefield for our Armed Forces members. Used originally for its unique properties as an analgesic, (pain relieving) sedative, and amnesic drug, severely wounded service members would be treated with Ketamine under the most dire circumstances in order to stabilize, sedate, and for a time, cause a type of amnesia which allowed severely wounded combatants to be temporarily removed from the traumatic ordeal. With time, emergency rooms worldwide have adopted ketamine to treat immediate and severe pain with far more success than the more commonly used morphine and opiate related treatments.

One of the major successes of Ketamine is the fact that the drug does not affect the respiratory and circulatory systems of the human body in the same way, attacking different pain receptors in the brain while avoiding others that slow the patient’s heartbeat and greatly lower the patient’s blood pressure. Keeping these essential systems in the human body operating closer to normal, while sedating the patients and disassociating them from their severe pain, allowed for patients to be treated without the same dangers that a slowed circulatory system presents during surgery.

Present day research into the way that Ketamine interacts with these neural receptors has brought about astounding and frankly unexpected results in the treatment of many Chronic Pain Syndromes. Within the last five years, there has been much interest in the role of ketamine as a treatment for chronic pain management, and doctors have begun to prescribe low doses of this medication to patients’ with chronic pain conditions such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). The realization that the particular combination of disassociation and euphoric calm that most patients feel during their Ketamine infusions inspired researchers to dig deeper to discover the cognitive and emotional healing qualities that the drug could provide. With this treatment, and a resurgence of research into the possibilities of different treatments in mind, breakthroughs began to occur, and suffering patients began to feel the relief that had been searching for.

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75% of patients have found relief with our alternative pain syndromes treatment

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A Growing Understanding of the Potential of Ketamine

In the past, nearly any treatment using Ketamine has been an anxiety inducing concept to many potential patients that could greatly benefit from ketamine infusion therapy. Being a lesser known, and even more misunderstood drug, has been a hurdle for researchers who intended to bring this form of Chronic Pain Syndrome Therapy to their patients. However, with persistence and partnerships, further testing, and deeper adoption by the Armed forces as a go to treatment for combatants with life threatening and nearly mortal injuries, the stigma and fear surrounding Ketamine has begun to dissipate, while further being accepted by both the medical community and those seeking treatment alike. Researchers eventually discovered that the psychedelic properties of ketamine help to reestablish healthy neural connections in the patient’s brain. As an additional effect of this drug therapy, it was also discovered that Ketamine will combat pain by acting against a specific chemical receptor known as N-methyl-D-aspartate, or NMDA, which is found in the nervous system and, in part, modulates pain. These pain receptors begin to essentially throttle down the pain response of certain pain receptors in the nervous system, lessening the constant severity of chronic pain to a manageable level for the patient.

Understanding Chronic Pain

Pain is, unfortunately, an unavoidable part of life. In most cases, pain is a sign that something is wrong, and it can sometimes be the only symptom that lets you know that you need to seek medical attention.

When you have an injury, pain sensors are triggered that send messages through your nerves to let your brain know that you are hurt. In most cases, the pain will go away once the cause of the problem is resolved, such as when a cut heals on your finger. Short-term pain is also typically easy to manage with common remedies that lower inflammation and promote healing, such as ice on a sprained ankle.

Unfortunately, there are also times when pain continues long after an issue is resolved or because of a chronic health condition such as arthritis. This type of pain may come and go, but it is usually present to some degree for the majority of a person’s day. Chronic pain is generally considered any discomfort that continues for more than 12 weeks. This pain may be intermittent or constant. It may also feel like throbbing or more like a burning sensation depending upon the type that you have. People with long-term pain also tend to find that it is harder to treat than short-term types, and you may find yourself feeling worn out, exhausted and even angry about the effects that your pain has on your life.

Once you are diagnosed with chronic pain, it is important to find out as much as you can about the type that you have and the underlying cause. You also need to know that there are treatment options available that can help you enjoy a better quality of life.

Are There Different Types of Chronic Pain?

There are several different types of pain, however medically speaking, these categories have been narrowed down into two main categories:

Nociceptive Pain: This type begins when some sort of damage to the body’s tissues trigger pain signals to be sent up the nervous system to the brain. Most people are familiar with this type of pain since it can be caused by temporary issues such as a bee sting. The pain usually changes if a person moves or places pressure on the injured part of the body. Types of chronic pain that fall into this category are often caused by things such as inflammatory arthritis or a tumor located somewhere in the body.

Neuropathic Pain: This type of pain is often referred to as nerve damage. Injuries to any part of your nervous system can lead to chronic pain because nerves do not always heal. People have described neuropathic pain as feeling like burning or electrical shocks shooting through the affected part of their body. People with diabetes, alcohol addiction and that have gone through chemotherapy are at a higher risk for this type of pain, but it can also follow a common injury that simply does not heal properly. One of the more severe and versions of chronic nerve damage is known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

CRPS is a chronic pain condition in which high levels of nerve impulses are sent to an affected site. Due to these nerves constantly sending a severe pain response to the affected region, the patient’s quality of life is greatly diminished, essentially crippling the patient, with very few non-hyper addicting, opiate based pain relief options available. A need to find another approach was necessary, as the often-crippling side effects of opiates could generate many other issues in a patient’s life, with no permanent symptom relief aside from a never ending protocol of stronger and stronger opiates.

The MindPeace Clinic Approach to Chronic Pain Syndromes Treatment:

From the initial consultation with Mind Peace Clinic, we understand and anticipate that every patient is different, and their treatment will be wholly unique to them. After the initial consultation, as well as
Using a low dose infusion of Ketamine for pain, a typical treatment plan for a patient that suffers from one of many Chronic Pain Syndromes is a series of increasing doses of ketamine infusions over a 3-5 day schedule. This infusion is then repeated the following week. Each infusion will last anywhere between 4-6 hours per session. More than one series of infusions may be required to achieve adequate remission of symptoms.

It is very important to keep in mind that every patient responds differently to this treatment, however, our team works vigorously with you to determine a treatment plan that works with your situation. Some patients may do well with a less intensive treatment plan, but Chronic Pain Syndromes typically require intensive therapy.

Your first steps to easing Chronic Pain Syndromes:

The journey towards healing is never an easy one. With so many questions, options, therapies, and informative sources to be considered, the road to freedom from Chronic Pain Syndrome can sometimes be frightening and filled with frustration. The good news is that our team of highly trained professionals are here to help navigate your options and give you the best chance of finding your way back to a pain free life.

Breakthrough Infusion Therapy

pain syndromes RELIEFIS HERE

75% of patients have found relief with our alternative pain syndromes treatment

Depression

PTSD

Major Anxiety

Pain Syndromes

See If Our Breakthrough Therapy Is Right For You

Enter your info below…

About The Author:

Dr. Patrick A. Oliver, MD FAAEM

Dr. Oliver is one of the leading medical professionals in the ketamine infusion industry. He attended the University of Richmond for his undergraduate degree, then studied at the University of Pennsylvania in their Post Baccalaureate Pre Health Program and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Dr. Patrick Oliver is the Medical Director at both the NoVA MindPeace Clinic in Arlington, Virginia and the RVA MindPeace Clinic in Richmond’s West End. His practice has employed the use of Ketamine infusions for over ten (10) years. Dr. Oliver's work and expertise have been mentioned in numerous publications including Psychotherapy Network, NBC, and Richmond Magazine. Read more about Dr. Patrick Oliver's background on the University of Richmond website and check out his 5-star grade on the nationally recognized medical site HealthGrades.com.
To learn more about Dr. Oliver, see his full bio here.